Game device



L. F. PIERSON.

GAME DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1917.

1,339,285 Patented May 4, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD F. PIERSON, OF FBEDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA.

GAME DEVICE.

To all 1011 0112 it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnornuu) F. PIERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at l redericlrsburg, in the county of Spotsylvania and State of7i i1'gi11ia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to amusement devices, and particularly to a device for playing indoor games, such as golf or the like.

The object of the invention is to produce a device for playing an indoor game of golf or the like and to so' construct the device that the players must employ a reasonable amount of skill to play the game with good scores. The device is constructed, however,v

in a manner to enable any one to play the game, that is to say, the rules and manner of playing are simple.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel device foruse in manipulating or actuating the playing device, which in the present instance, preferably comprises a small ball having virtually the characteristics of a miniature golf ball.

The device will be hereinafter more specifically referred to with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein it is shown as adapted for employing the general rules of golf.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a plan View of a table or suitable support illustrating the game device as applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

F 1g. 1s a top plan now of the barrier JOIIlt;

F 1g. 4 is a bottom plan view of the bridge spanning the barriers;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; y y a Fig. (3 is asectional View of the playing green on the line G G of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the actuating device showing a portion of it in section; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of one part of the actuating device.

The game contemplates the employment of a rectangular frame 1 adapted to be secured to a suitable support by the clamps 2. The frame may consist of a plurality of sections dovetailed together as at 3, whereby Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 26, 1917.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Serial No. 157,408.

ter of the opposite side of the frame, the

barrier at intersecting the barrier 5 at its center and being received within a recess 6,

the barrier l carrying locking wings 7 to engage recesses in the barrier 5, whereby the two barriers willbe secured together in the form of the letter X. Similar barriers 8 and 9 are provided in the opposite end of the frame, the inner ends of the barriers 8 and 9 abutting against those of the barriers at and 5, whereby a central field 10 will be provided surrounded by substantially triangular fields 11, 12, 13, i l, 15 and 16, which represent the fair-greens of the golf course. The inner edge of the frame 1 may be lined with suitable cushioning material 17. The barriers may also be provided with cushioning covers or walls 18 and 19 and 20 and 21 respectively, The barriers may be of suitable height and relatively thin. In practice, I findthat barriers about three inches high and substantially a half inch thick admirably serve the purpose intended. it suitable points upon the barriers may be arranged bridges or passageways 22 best shown in Fig. 5. so that the ball may run up over the barriers instead of being hurdled over. In each of the fields is one or more ball-receiving seats simulating a putting green. The form of green is bee shown in Fig. 6 as consisting of a base with a hole or seatQ-l to receive the ball 25. All of the greens will be substantially the same, but the golf course will be so ar- The device for imparting motion to the ball may consist of a flexible blade 26, provided at one end with a handle 27, the free end being adapted to engage a shoulder 28 on a rotating disk 29, carried by a stock 30 of a releasing device. The disk 29 is provided with a notch 31 adapted to be engaged by a releasable bolt 32 connected to a trigger 33 on the stock 30, said bolt 32 being slidable in guides 34 and 35 and normally projected toward the notch 31 by the spring 36, one end of which bears against the guide 34 and the other end of which bears against the collar 37 on said bolt 32. The disk is initially set so that the bolt 32 will engage the notch 31, whereby the shoulder 28 will be held substantially rigid with the stock 30. The free end of the blade 26 is then caused to engage the shoulder 28 as indicated in Fig. 7, and the disk carrying end ofthe gun or releasing device is moved adjacent to the ball 25 in the proper position to loft it or to English the ball to cause it to take a curved course. When the projector is in the proper position with relation to the ball, the trigger 33 is pulled back so that the disk 29 will be released and the end of the blade 26 may strike the ball a sharp blow to put it in flight or to English it as the case may be. As an example, of a convenient manner of arranging the plays, it will be assumed that the first hole or green is in the field 11, the second in 12, the third in the central diamond-sha ed field 10, the fourth in the field 13, the fth in 14, the sixth in 10, the seventh in 15, the eighth in 16, and the ninth in 10, the board being designed for a nine-hole course.

In playing the game, the first player may lay the ball from 12 to 11 for the first ole, this being a lofting shot over the intersection of the barriers 4 and 5 and 8 and 9. If the ball is deposited on the seat, or hole 24, the player has another shot. If it is not deposited on the seat, the next player plays and the first player meanwhile, leaving the ball he played where it lies until all the players succeeding him have missed, (it being understood that two or more players may be contestants in the same game). After each of the players has missed, the first player may then play his ball from the position where it lies toward the green until he misses the hole, when the next succeeding player or players play, as above described. Instead of lofting the ball, it may be played over the bridges or fair-ways 22, but each attempt to strike the ball, as well as each actual stroke in contact with the ball will count as a stroke, the person having the least number of strokes for the nine holes being the winner. It is obvious that the rules of the game may be varied or regulated to suit the players, but it is desirable to conform as nearly as possible to the rules governing the playing of golf. It will be seen that the game may be played without any special skill, but it is possible to execute difficult shots by the exercise of special training and dexterity.

I claim z- 1. In a game, a frame, barriers dividing the frame into a plurality of separate fields, game piece seats, seats in the fields, and bridge pieces carried by the barriers and having opposite ends projecting into adjacent fields.

2. In a game, a frame, barriers dividing the frame into a plurality of separate fields and disposed in intersecting relation, means for removably interlocking said barriers together, game piece receiving seats in the spaces between the barriers, and a game piece adapted to be projected onto said seats.

3. In a game, a frame, barriers within the frame and arranged in intersecting relation to form a central field and separated fields surrounding the central field, bridge pieces dividing the fields from one another and providing intersecting barriers, and game piece receiving means within the fields.

4. In a game, a frame, separated fields within the frame, bridge pieces leading from one field into the other field, game piece receiving seats in the respective fields and a game piece cooperating with said seats.

5. In a ame, a frame, barriers in the frame, bridges comprising strips inclined from the barriers downwardly into the fields formed by the barriers, game piece receiving seats and game pieces to be received upon said seats.

6. In a game, a knock-down frame, consisting of a plurality of removably connected sections, intersecting barriers within the frame, and removably interconnected game piece receiving seats in the fields formed by the barriers and pieces to be seated upon said game piece receiving seats.

7. In a game, a frame, intersecting barriers forming separate fields within said frame, a ball to be projected into the fields, means for projecting said ball comprising a handle, a flexible blade on the handle, and a device for holding the blade under tension. comprising a stock, a pvoted disk on said stock, ashoulder for engaging the blade and a trigger actuated bolt for normally engaging the disk to hold it rigid with respect to the stock.

The foregoing specification signed at Fredericksburg, Va. this 24 day of March, 1917.

LEONARD F. PIERSON. 

